The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp

by Leonie Swann

Soho Press

August 29, 2023

    Sunset Hall is a small retirement home for a somewhat odd group who are shunned by the local townspeople (Duck End is the great name for the town) as "hippies". The murders that occur are almost secondary to the wonderful characters. Swann does a great job of telling us just enough about each person's life to leave us satisfied and wanting to know more. This is a brilliant description of aging - laugh-out-loud funny and still terrifying.

    I hope there's a sequel coming as we need to know how certain people develop and how Hettie's hibernation goes.

If you would like to know more about, or own this book, please contact your local independent bookstore or this great place - bookshop.org.

The Romantic 

by William Boyd

PenguinRandomHouse

August 15th, 2023

    William Boyd has many enjoyable novels; his latest is a big old-fashioned biographical novel of a man whose life covers much of the 19th century, several names, explorations, criminals, a long lasting love, many different cities and a few major historic events. It's a delightful escape from our world.

If you would like to know more about this book, or purchase it, please try your local independent bookstore or this great place bookshop.org.

 Open Throat

by Henry Hoke

Macmillan Publishers

    Mountain lion, cougar, wildcat, parable, allegory, cautionary tale, fantastic novel. Heckit's is a voice you won't soon forget.

    Take two hours and fall prey to this strength.

If you would like to know more about, or purchase this book, please check your local indepedent bookstore or this great place bookshop.org.

 I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home

by Lorrie Moore

Knopf/PRH

    This is an oddly upbeat, philosophical and darkly funny book about death - what we know of it (pretty much nothing), what we imagine about it (everything).  It is also about love, deep, long, enduring love that time or decomp can't prevent. Although the latter can make things much more complicated.

    You do want to read this.

If you would like to know more about this book, or purchase it, please try your local bookstore or this great place bookshop.org .

 Kala

by Colin Walsh

Doubleday/PRH

July 25, 2023

    Kinlough is a small tourist town where the locals all seem to know each other, but few know the secrets keeping the town financially afloat. Fifteen years ago, six teenagers find out more than they should. In school, Kala, Aoife and Helen were best friends; Joe, Mush and Aiden their counterparts. Their youth ended a night in early November when Kala disappeared. Now they are older but not as much wiser as they want to think.

    A suspense novel told in several voices, you'll be tempted to read ahead as the tension increases,  but don't - each voice is distinct and needs to be heard.

If you would like to know more about or own this book, please try your local independent bookstore or bookshop.org. Note that it will be available July 25th.